The Whale

The Lighthouse Family #2

by Cynthia Rylant, Preston McDaniels (Illustrator)

Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant brings the peaceful sounds, sights, and characters of the coast vividly to life in the second book of the Lighthouse Family series, in which the family helps reunite a baby beluga whale with its mother.

Pandora, Seabold, Whistler, Lila, and Tiny have all been enjoying the love and comfort that being a family brings. It is a comfort they are unexpectedly reminded of when Whistler and Lila hear the cries of a lonely baby beluga whale named Sebastian. When they learn that he has lost his mama, the Lighthouse Family, with the help of a cranky but noble old cormorant named Huck, does all it can to bring Sebastian and his mother together again.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Chapter Books, Animals, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Juvenile

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

An author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for children and young adults as well as an author and author/illustrator of picture books for children, Cynthia Rylant is recognized as a gifted writer who has contributed memorably to several genres of juvenile literature. A prolific author who often bases her works on her own background, especially on her childhood in the West Virginia mountains, she is the creator of contemporary novels and historical fiction for young adults, middle-grade fiction and fantasy, lyrical prose poems, beginning readers, collections of short stories, volumes of poetry and verse, books of prayers and blessings, two autobiographies, and a biography of three well-known children's writers; several volumes of the author's fiction and picture books are published in series, including the popular "Henry and Mudge" easy readers about a small boy and his very large dog.

Rylant is perhaps most well known as a novelist. Characteristically, she portrays introspective, compassionate young people who live in rural settings or in small towns and who tend to be set apart from their peers.

from bookrags.com

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

A too cozy and too gentle adventure as a couple of mice -- orphans adopted by a dog and a cat and all living in a lighthouse -- help a lost baby beluga whale find its mother.

At least it is short, so it didn't have time to really bore me.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars: not a lot of depth or surprise in this one but still a sweet story.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHOLESOME!!!

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two books in and the kids really enjoy this series. We will definitely continue on. Kind of fun how much coastal vocabulary my landlocked children are learning in these books - pod, lagoon, cormorant, etc.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet middle grade about the Lighthouse family (A found family of a cat, dog and 3 mice). They find a baby whale who has been separated from his mama and they work together with a bird friend named Huck to find it's mama. So sweet.

[Basil Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

hello baby it is me honey

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are really enjoying this sweet series!

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not like this book because I did not like the part when the baby whale lost its mother. I liked this book because I liked the part when Huck, Whistle, and Lisa found the baby's whale's mother.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, charming little tale of how Whistler and Lila set off to look for an adventure on an ordinary day, and find a lost Beluga whale calf who's been separated from his pod. As orphans themselves, they know how important finding your mother is! With a little help from their friends, they go out to search for Mama Honey.

Artwork and story combine to create an enchanting world of family warmth and gentle adventure. I can't recommend this series highly enough. I love Seabold, the brave mariner dog with human hands. I am enchanted by the mouse-children's sock bed near the fire. And the idea of feeding a baby beluga vegetable stew to keep him happy is endearing.

Read it with someone you love, even if that someone is just you. But read it.

[Mary T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this sweet series. I read it aloud to three of my sons (7, 3, and 2) on a chilly winter day outside huddled under a blanket. Books like these help increase the reading stamina of my youngest boys, and I appreciate that!

[Sonia Schoenfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whistler and Lila, two little mice who live in the lighthouse on the cliff with Pandora the cat, Seabold the dog, and their sister Tiny, find a baby beluga who has become lost from his parents. With the help of a curmudgeonly but kind-hearted cormorant the baby whale is reunited with his pod. This series is one of the sweetest series of books I've ever read.

[Ellen]

From the pictures to the text to the plot, these books couldn't be more winsome or appealing. Two young mice go on an adventure to help reunite a baby beluga with his missing mom, supporting by their found family and a grumpy but golden-hearted friend.

[Jessica Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in this series that my now 6 year old and I have enjoyed together as a read aloud so far this summer. It was pure delight. It’s easy to read aloud, had varying characters, and my daughter laughed in all the right places. We hope to read the whole series together.

[Melissa Namba · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story about a whale who loses his mother. The animals in the Lighthouse decide to help him by splitting up. Half go with the bord to find the mother and the other half stay with the baby whale and distract him with stories.

[Teresa]

It won't rate this book because obviously it's for children. However it was super cute I'm going to buy it for my nephew. I read it to see if it would be something that he would enjoy. The characters are cute It's a fun story about new friends a little adventure and community

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that they live in a lighthouse.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart-warming and adventurous story of friendship. A great sequel to The Storm.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My six year old and I love this little series!

[Danette · Rating 4 out of 5]

6/26/19 Read with Julia.

[weirdo named Henry Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely family with three mice children, a dog, and a cat has a very happy attitude! A heartwarming story makes you want to have tea by the fireplace!

[Evelyn Schubert · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. It was kind of like a little bit funny and one part was sad because one little whale lost his mom. But then it found a friend. And then it found its mom.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sweet and heart-warming take of an animal family that helps a lost baby beluga whale find his mother. This is a great read-aloud book for preschool or early elementary students.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I continue to be less than enthusiastic about this series. But they're gentle and sweet and unobjectionable and H enjoys them.

[Octavia B. Sithole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice


Another short lovely tale that teaches children the importance of helping others.
The plot is fun and it's easy for kids to follow the story.

[Kasi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wholesome little books/stories.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another delightful story from Cynthia Rylant.
My daughter and I both really enjoyed this.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a delightful series! We too are always on the lookout for adventure.

[Sarah Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super sweet. We are loving this series

[Anna Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chapter book truly geared towards little ones!

[Sydney Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as cute and cozy as the first one.